At the heart of New Jersey Youth Soccer’s mission, to connect and empower the youth soccer community, is a commitment to creating opportunities that help young people grow both on and off the field. This mission comes to life through the expansion of the Innovate to Grow (ITG) programs, which continue to bridge connections across communities while empowering players, referees and future leaders through the game.
NJ Youth Soccer is proud to recognize the continued growth of its Recreation Referee Program, Career Development Program and Let’s Play! Program, with additional locations and participants joining the initiatives this fall. Each of these programs reflects the organization’s core mission by uniting local clubs, schools and community partners under a shared goal of fostering development, confidence and lifelong engagement in soccer.
Recreation Referee Program
NJ Youth Soccer continued another year of its Recreation Referee Program, with 12-member soccer clubs participating over the fall season. Each club hosted its own program, where candidates learned the basics of officiating, the Laws of the Game, uniform and equipment requirements, and received ongoing education. The curriculum also emphasized Respect, Positivity, Experience and Laws of the Game to make refereeing more approachable for young aspiring referees.
The Recreation Referee Program also sponsors young referees to become U.S. Soccer Grassroots Referees and join the state’s competitive referee pool.
“Our Recreation Referee Program gives the opportunity to the kids participating in each club to start a path to refereeing,” said Breeana Cassidy, NJYS Grant Program Manager. “This program breaks down the basics of refereeing in small-sided games, helping kids gain confidence and experience in a fun and supportive environment.”
Career Development Program
This NJYS Career Development Program provides college students with professional development and career exploration opportunities through youth soccer. This fall season, NJ Youth Soccer anticipates 10 students will participate.
The program educates students about leadership and growth opportunities through webinars and in-person events, both on and off the field. Students are provided opportunities to network with industry professionals, connect with peers and gain real-life experience by assisting at NJYS events, giving them hands-on exposure to how sports organizations operate. These experiences help students build valuable skills, explore potential career paths and develop professional confidence.
“I am very appreciative of the opportunity the Career Development Program has given me to participate in and understand the amount of work that goes into various events hosted by NJYS, as well as connect with like-minded peers,” said Melanie Lockwood, a past Career Development Program participant.
Let’s Play! Program
This fall, NJ Youth is running six Let’s Play! Programs across the state. Let’s Play! is an after-school initiative designed to provide a safe, character-building, community-supported program that promotes social and emotional growth while addressing health and wellness. The program aims to reduce negative behavior, improve mental health and well-being, and boost educational achievement, all while fostering excitement for the game of soccer.
The Fall 2025 program locations are Roseville Community Charter School, Freehold Intermediate, Boys & Girls Club Wayne, Boys & Girls Club of Pequannock, Boys & Girls Club of Garfield and Boys & Girls Club of Mercer. Sessions are held one day per week for six to eight weeks from September through October.
“This opportunity allowed us to extend a program to our 3rd and 4th Grade After School members, as well as invite our Recreational Soccer participants, something we’ve never been able to do before,” said Dan Dipsey, Unit Director of the Boys & Girls Club. “The new equipment and personalized soccer balls sparked excitement among our members. While some were initially hesitant to step out of their comfort zones, the structured curriculum made it easy for us to break into smaller groups, encouraging more participation. By week 3, the difference was clear. Members were eager to participate and showcase the new skills they had learned. We love seeing our members stay active and embrace healthy lifestyles, and thanks to NJYS, we were able to expand our programming in ways we hadn’t previously been able to. During our final session, we celebrated their achievements by handing out shirts and medals, marking the success of the program.”
Committed to Growing the Game
NJ Youth Soccer remains committed to growing the game while fostering development both on and off the field. By expanding locations for the Recreation Referee Program, Career Development Program and Let’s Play! Program, NJ Youth Soccer continues to invest in the future of players, referees and leaders across the state.
“Expanding these programs allows us to reach more communities and provide even greater opportunities for growth,” said Breeana Cassidy, Program Manager. “We are proud to support young referees, players and future leaders in developing skills, confidence and a lifelong love of the game.”
“When we first started these programs, we were small—just a few clubs and a handful of participants,” Cassidy added. “Through careful planning, partnerships and a focus on community impact, we have grown year after year. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come, and even more exciting to see the opportunities we are now able to provide for so many more young people across New Jersey.”
To learn more about these NJYS programs, contact Breeana Cassidy, Program Manager, at breeana@njyouthsoccer.com.